The National Information Technology Development Agency has unveiled the Nigeria Tech Outlook Report 2026 to guide investments in the country’s digital economy sector.

NITDA’s director-general, Kashifu Inuwa, unveiled the report on Wednesday at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026 in Abuja.

The report also contained a dashboard to provide evidence-based insights for policymaking, investment and digital economy development.

Mr Inuwa said the report was designed to provide a credible national baseline for measuring Nigeria’s digital progress, identifying gaps and guiding interventions across key sectors.

He said it covered financial services, telecommunications, commerce and trade, e-government, e-health, digital access, skills, trust and inclusion.

According to him, the research involved 2,147 household interviews, 539 health facility interviews, 15 key informant interviews and 10 administrative records from relevant institutions.

”The report shows that 86.5 per cent of Nigerian adults held financial accounts, while only 12 per cent accessed digital credit in the preceding 12 months. It also reveals that 40.6 per cent of adults personally used smartphones, while only 6.6 per cent purchased goods online within the preceding three months.

”On digital public services, the report indicates that 17.9 per cent of respondents used government services online in the preceding 12 months. It further shows that 75.9 per cent of adults were willing to use telemedicine if available, while 11.3 per cent had insurance coverage,” he said.

The NITDA chief also said that findings indicated that 13.1 per cent of respondents had experienced digital financial fraud, highlighting the need to strengthen consumer protection and digital trust.

Mr Inuwa said the report would help government, investors, researchers, innovators and development partners make decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions. He explained that the accompanying dashboard would make the findings accessible beyond the printed report and allow stakeholders to track progress and submit feedback.

According to him, the evidence will also help investors identify opportunities in payments, connectivity, digital devices, e-commerce, logistics, e-government and digital health.

He reiterated that addressing challenges such as power supply, digital skills, affordability, interoperability and consumer protection was essential to maximising investment in the sector.

The NITDA boss added that the report would establish an annual process to measure progress, review targets and adjust policies based on emerging evidence.

He urged stakeholders to use the findings to develop practical solutions, strengthen institutions and improve digital inclusion across the country.

The report identified access, usage, trust, skills and inclusion as interconnected areas requiring attention to ensure that Nigeria’s expanding digital infrastructure translates into meaningful benefits for citizens and businesses.

(NAN)